The Therapy Garden combines the expertise and talents of experienced staff, trustees and volunteers. The charity is indebted to our patron; Young Horticulturist of the Year 2013, Jez Stamp, and we appreciate his ongoing support.
Gardening is my passion. Working with plants gives me a tremendous sense of wellbeing and perspective. I hope my knowledge and experience will benefit the fantastic work already done by the Therapy Garden which shows the power that gardening has to help everyone, whatever their needs.
Stella joined The Therapy Garden in 2021, initially to support Marketing and Fundraising, before taking on management of the garden in February 2023. Stella's career has predominantly been within marketing.
Katrina came to us in March 2018 from Waverley BC Training Services where she taught the Horticulture Study Programme (Horticulture, Employability, Maths and English) and took groups of learners out to work in older/more vulnerable residents gardens. Her horticultural background includes: plant breeding with a vegetable seed company, nursery grower with Hillier’s Nurseries and private gardening employment.
As well as her horticultural background Katrina has always had a keen interest in people and their wellbeing and to further this she has studied: care, social care, home nursing, Physiology with Psychology (BSc hons), basic counselling, mental health first aid, teaching (PGCE) and assessing. She has also been a volunteer with St John Ambulance since 2011 where she trained as a community first responder and was a volunteer first aider and trainer.
Other interests include reading, cooking/baking (especially with flowers), crafts and outdoor activities such as mountain walking, scrambling, sea kayaking & cycling. She also loves photographing flowers in her spare time and spending time on her allotment.
Janine has spent over twelve years working in marketing, mainly in the travel and leisure industries, which has been a great fit for her love of new places and people. Her work has varied significantly over the years, having held positions in tour operating, hotels and exhibitions.
Most recently, she worked at Guildford Borough Council for a programme which provided a variety of support to families within the local area. It was a rewarding role that gave her a real appreciation for how important good systems, communication, and empathy are when working within communities.
When not working, you might find Janine pottering around in her garden – she says, “Although compared to my colleagues I am a rank amateur at that side of things!”
Maggie joined the team in April 2025, bringing over three decades of teaching experience across England, Scotland, and France. With a longstanding commitment to inclusive education, she previously worked as a Specialist Teacher for Inclusive Practice with Surrey County Council, supporting schools, families, and children, particularly around social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH). Maggie is passionate about creating environments where everyone feels safe, valued, and able to thrive.
In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, crafting, countryside walks, reading, and experimenting in the kitchen.
Lizzie joined The Therapy Garden after a career in teaching. She is currently pursuing a Level 2 qualification in practical horticulture, along with an assessor's qualification. Lizzie is passionate about supporting others' well-being and learning through gardening and nature activities. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and tending to her own garden. Additionally, she loves camping holidays, walking, and spending as much time outdoors as possible.
Sally joined The Therapy Garden as a volunteer in 2011, making her the longest-serving member of the team! With a background in the hospitality industry, she initially took on the role of running events for the Garden before moving to the fundraising team, where she focuses on bid writing for trusts and foundations. Although Sally doesn't consider herself a gardener, she describes herself as a lover of gardens. After all, who doesn't feel uplifted by the first buds of spring or the rich diversity of a golden summer?
Jo joined The Therapy Garden in October 2021 as our Finance and Volunteer Coordinator, she looks after all finance related queries including invoicing and purchasing. She is also the volunteers main point of contact and oversees volunteer recruitment and admin. She has a background in administration, most recently 10 years at the University of Surrey (latterly at the Surrey Clinical Research Centre) with experience in finance, managing budgets and secretarial admin.
Steve has spent the majority of his career in the financial services industry, but he has recently transitioned to the charity sector. After working as a fundraiser for Princess Alice Hospice in Esher, Steve joined The Therapy Garden in February of last year as the volunteer coordinator. In this role, he is the primary point of contact for volunteers, overseeing their recruitment, training programs, and engagement activities. Steve lives in Woking, enjoys playing sports, and is a proud grandfather.
Anne started her career as a Radiographer (Therapy). After a break to have children, she restarted by studying for a BSc (Sociology) followed by a MSc (Social Research Methods). She then worked for the police as a civilian information officer and latterly their local press officer before moving to work for the Richmond Fellowship, a charity providing work and homes for people with mental health problems, followed by working as Deputy Director for the Journalists’ Charity and then for The Therapy Garden as Centre Manager. When she retired from the Therapy Garden, she was persuaded to join the trustee board.
Anne and her husband have 5 children and 11 grandchildren between them, which keeps them busy. She plays bridge regularly and enjoys reading, doing crosswords and gardening (very badly).
Sarah has joined the trustees as a horticultural specialist. She teaches on a range of horticultural courses at Merrist Wood College and University Centre, located close to the Therapy Garden. Sarah is currently a candidate for the RHS Master of Horticulture; she personally has an interest in biosecurity & ethnobotany. Sarah is keen to volunteer her time to an important cause that makes a tangible difference to both adults and children.
After a career in Civil Engineering, Risk Management and Insurance Broking, Reeve took on Directorship of a Health and Safety Consultancy. Finding more time on his hands, he volunteered for the Therapy Garden as a driver but was soon asked to employ his experience as a Trustee.
Away from work and The Therapy Garden, Reeve loves ocean sailing, walking, classic cars and all things family.
Richard joined the Trustees at The Therapy Garden in 2018, he is an accountant and is currently the Treasurer.
Ed joined us as a Trustee of The Therapy Garden in 2023. He has extensive experience in HR, working for firms including Allianz Insurance, Nelsons and BAA. He is currently a Director of Menzies HR Services and his experience means that he supports The Therapy Garden with our HR requirements for our employees and volunteers.
Jason joined the Therapy Garden as a Trustee in 2024 with extensive experience working with Charities. He is currently Chief Executive of Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership. He was previously CEO of Surrey Community Action where he advised charities on how to work together effectively, gain new funding sources and establish new projects, and his knowledge and expertise help support The Therapy Garden with our future plans.
Ed joined the Trustees in 2026. He studied for a degree in Philosophy and Theology before training as a Chartered Accountant and then moving into the defence industry for 12 years. After that, he became a Bursar at 3 independent schools over 19 years. Over that time, as well as managing the finances, he was responsible for maintenance, grounds, major projects, HR and catering among other things.
Ed is married to Tara, a Church of England vicar, and they have 2 grown up children and Reggie, a working cocker spaniel. He still plays cricket for Odiham & Greywell but has retired from rugby, much to Tara’s relief.
